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Post by dem bones on Nov 29, 2022 10:20:49 GMT
Right now, Serbia and Cameroon are playing in a thrilling game. Serbia were 3-1 up and then the African side said hold my pint and scored a brace in two minutes. One of the best games so far imo. Cameroon 3 Serbia 3. An hour in and Cameroon had folded so badly, it was only a matter of how many the Serbs would rack up. One inspired substitution later, and Vincent Aboubakar, clearly not best pleased at his omission from starting XI, inspired a superb comeback from the dead, with an audacious chip into net, before charging forward to set up an unlikely equaliser. Marvellous entertainment. Ghana 3 South Korea 2. Another two goal comeback as the Republic, woeful in the first half, burst out of blocks after interval to pull level with a pair of spectacular headers. All in vain. Korean coach was so upset with Ref blowing up before his team could take a corner, as to earn a red card. Portugal 2 Uruguay 0. Is there no stopping the man? CR7 the jellyfish hero yet again with both goals — a header so "deft" as to deceive everyone in world he'd made no contact with ball whatsoever, and a late penalty nonchalantly stroked home from the sub's bench. Spiky game, but less so than anticipated (by me). Pepe was positively angelic!!!! Ghana salivating at prospect of sending Uruguayans packing. Brazil 1 Switzerland 0. Didn't make for the greatest watch, but Swiss brilliantly stifled their fancied opponents for eighty-plus minutes, only to be undone by a Casemiro thunderbolt when it looked like they'd earn a draw. Brazil join France and Holland as only teams to win both their games. TodayGroup AQatar V Netherlands Ecuador V SenegalGroup BEngland V Wales Iran V USAOn to third and final group games. Ecuador - Senegal pick of the early games. This evening, I think USA could be joining a select luckless bunch - Scotland and New Zealand, among them - who've exited at the group stage despite not losing a game. England need only a draw, Wales must win by 4 and hope for draw in other match to progress. Think we might see a red card in this one.
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Post by ripper on Nov 30, 2022 10:32:27 GMT
England 3 Wales 0 After all the anticipation of what might happen, it was a pretty comfortable win for England. Rashford seems reborn as a player since Ten Hag took over at MU, and Foden took his opportunity to demonstrate why he should be in the starting XI. After the first goal, it was going to be an uphill struggle for Wales, and following the second coming so fast, it was all but impossible. I felt sorry for Bale. He did little in the first half and was subbed at half-time. He was clearly struggling with an injury, and it may be that we have seen the last of him in a Wales shirt.
I only caught the last few minutes of Iran vs USA. The Iranians were livid after a penalty appeal was turned down deep into injury time. If it had been given and Iran scored then they would have progressed to the next round as all they needed was a draw.
Next up for England is Senegal. As for Wales, they may well have to rebuild without several of their most prominent players.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 30, 2022 11:36:14 GMT
Netherlands 2 Qatar 0. A Dutch win as close to a foregone conclusion as we'll see in this or any world cup. Gave it a miss in favour of.
Ecuador 1 Senegal 2. Sorry to see Ecuador go as they've played some lovely stuff. Senegal deserved it on the day. Their fans are perhaps the most glorious spectacle of entire tournament.
Iran 0 USA 1. Was tempted to watch this massive-est of grudge matches (at least until Friday) over the potential torture porn available on BBC1. Been impressed with the Americans, thought two goals in three games is a concern for them facing a Dutch side who won their group with the minimum of fuss.
England 3 Wales 0. About right. Rashford's free kick settled any Eng nerves as Welsh offered so little up front. Foden's bonus second so soon after had the job done with 40 mins to play.
Today
Australia V Denmark France V Tunisia
Argentina V Poland Mexico V Saudi Arabia
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Post by ripper on Dec 1, 2022 9:41:05 GMT
Real drama in yesterday's games, particularly the 7pm kick-offs. Mexico were all over the Saudis, yet couldn't get that vital third goal despite numerous chances. Meanwhile, Poland were similarly dominated by Argentina and were lucky only to lose by a single goal. In the end, Polish nerves were soothed by an unexpected saudi goal deep into injury time against Mexico. For a while it was looking like who would finish second in the group between Poland and Mexico would come down to yellow cards.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 1, 2022 11:19:56 GMT
Real drama in yesterday's games, particularly the 7pm kick-offs. Mexico were all over the Saudis, yet couldn't get that vital third goal despite numerous chances. Meanwhile, Poland were similarly dominated by Argentina and were lucky only to lose by a single goal. In the end, Polish nerves were soothed by an unexpected saudi goal deep into injury time against Mexico. For a while it was looking like who would finish second in the group between Poland and Mexico would come down to yellow cards. ... and if they'd been identical, it was down to drawing lots. Imagine going out like that? Australia 1 Denmark 0 France 0 Tunisia 1. Only caught highlights of these. Not sure many outside Australia gave their lads a prayer of qualifying from a tough group — deserved, too, from what I've seen of them. The entire population of Brazil will be rooting for them next time out. Danes, superb at last year's Euro's, didn't seem to get going. As for Tunisia, if your tournament is going to end in failure, might as well make it a glorious one. Argentina 2 Poland 0 Mexico 2 Saudi Arabia 1. South American champs looking more like their heavily fancied selves, though it helped that the Poles were abject. Wish I'd switched over for the other game sooner. Where were this all attacking Mexico in the opening game? They looked the real deal in second half, desperately unfortunate not to score the third needed to progress. TodayGroup ECosta Rica V Germany Japan V SpainGroup FCanada V Morocco Belgium Croatia
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Post by jamesdoig on Dec 1, 2022 23:09:19 GMT
Australia 1 Denmark 0
. Only caught highlights of these. Not sure many outside Australia gave their lads a prayer of qualifying from a tough group — deserved, too, from what I've seen of them. Yeah, a couple of great wins, and now Argentina I think. Apropos of nothing, the term 'soccer' (derived from asSOC[CER]iation rules) was widely used in the UK up to the 1970s, when it gave way to 'football' and disappeared without trace. Here fans call it football and everyone else soccer to distinguish it from all the other football codes.
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Post by ripper on Dec 2, 2022 10:14:20 GMT
Australia 1 Denmark 0
. Only caught highlights of these. Not sure many outside Australia gave their lads a prayer of qualifying from a tough group — deserved, too, from what I've seen of them. Yeah, a couple of great wins, and now Argentina I think. Apropos of nothing, the term 'soccer' (derived from asSOC[CER]iation rules) was widely used in the UK up to the 1970s, when it gave way to 'football' and disappeared without trace. Here fans call it football and everyone else soccer to distinguish it from all the other football codes. Good luck to Australia in their match against Argentina. Although on paper Argentina are favourites, you never quite know in football, and I am sure the Aussies will be up for it. What a day...Belgium and Germany out. I fear that Belgium's 'golden generation' will go the way of England's of about 15 years ago i.e. winning nothing. As for Germany, that's two consecutive WC groups they have failed to progress from. Well done to Japan, after their hiccup against Costa Rica I thought they had blown their chance. As for football vs soccer, although the latter name for the game is often frowned upon here nowadays, I remember it being used fairly freely in the 70s, and, indeed, the ATV region Sunday highlights programme was called Star Soccer--I think it was The Big Match in the London area.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 2, 2022 11:54:39 GMT
Apropos of nothing, the term 'soccer' (derived from asSOC[CER]iation rules) was widely used in the UK up to the 1970s, when it gave way to 'football' and disappeared without trace. Here fans call it football and everyone else soccer to distinguish it from all the other football codes. So where does the "Socceroos" thing come from? Inflicted by outsiders? Belgium 0 Croatia 0 Canada 1 Morocco 2Opted for the all Euro tie. Coverage preceded by a truly mirth-inducing video celebrating Wales' glorious World Cup campaign, reminding us of all they "won." (spoiler: does not include any football matches). Anyway, Belgium-Croatia. After a dreadful first half, Roberto Martinez wheeled on a rushed back from injury Romelu Lukaku, who will spend rest of his career wishing the manager had picked on someone else. Wasn't his fault. Last year's top ranked team on planet have been poor over three games. Only caught highlights of other game. Morocco's opener the result of a goalkeeping howler, the second a superb net buster. From the short clip, it looked like Canada came right back into it and so nearly bagged an equaliser in frantic goalmouth scramble. Sorry to see them go - they're a decent side and deserved to take a point at the least from opening match. Costa Rica 2 Germany 4 Japan 2 Spain 1 A treat for neutrals, absolute torture for fans of the teams involved. Full credit to Costa Rica who belatedly showed they can be an attacking force and so nearly pulled off the miracle of comebacks from that opening 0-7 defeat to qualify at Spain's expense. But then reality set in, and the Germans smashed in three. Caught the Japan - Spain game later, and, much as Japan have been excellent in two of three games and deserved to win, you'd feel aggrieved in the German's situation that their winner was allowed to stand. TodayLast of the group games Group GBrazil V Cameroon Serbia V SwitzerlandGroup HGhana V Uruguay Portugal V South Korea
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Post by jamesdoig on Dec 2, 2022 22:36:20 GMT
So where does the "Socceroos" thing come from? Inflicted by outsiders? Footyroos doesn't have the same ring to it 😁 Socceroos started life in 1974 when we made the world cup for the first time, and it's stuck. We drew a group with West Germany, East Germany and Chile - didn't win a game.
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Post by ripper on Dec 3, 2022 10:58:45 GMT
So where does the "Socceroos" thing come from? Inflicted by outsiders? Footyroos doesn't have the same ring to it 😁 Socceroos started life in 1974 when we made the world cup for the first time, and it's stuck. We drew a group with West Germany, East Germany and Chile - didn't win a game. So 'Socceroos' originated in Australia? Famous victory for Cameroon last night. Pundits saying it was the biggest upset in WC history. I'm not sure about that, as we have a tendency to forget such results from the past, but it was a major surprise. Sad that in the end it didn't allow them to progress.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 3, 2022 13:52:22 GMT
Famous victory for Cameroon last night. Pundits saying it was the biggest upset in WC history. I'm not sure about that, as we have a tendency to forget such results from the past, but it was a major surprise. Sad that in the end it didn't allow them to progress. Not sure if it was even shock of the tournament; Brazil, having already qualified, rested key players, and Cameroon showed what a decent side they are in the second half against the Serbs. Not sure there's been a more improbable result than Costa Rica coming back from that 7-0 hammering to beat the Japanese in their next game. Ghana 0 Uruguay 2 Portugal 1 South Korea 2 It fell short of the revenge they hoped for, but Ghana took great consolation in denying the hated chewie Luis Suarez mob the third goal that would have seen them progress at S. Korea's expense. Uruguay put in far their best performance, also their most diabolical, not that the Black Stars were averse to dishing some out. It defies belief the game ended with all 22 players still on the pitch given all the studs up nastiness, elbowing, am-dram, manhandling of ref, etc. The toothsome man-eater weeping buckets (“It seems like Fifa is always against Uruguay”), Cavani trashing VAR monitor, lynch mob surrounding officials at final whistle. The sky blues are rarely ones to depart a tournament gracefully. Only saw goals from other game. Serbia 2 Switzerland 3 Brazil 0 Cameroon 1 Only saw highlights of Cameroon's win. Vincent Aboubakar's sending off for removing shirt absolutely laughable in light of the mayhem gone unpunished in the Serb-Swiss thriller, another acrimonious affair with a marvellous football match breaking out between off the ball incidents. Amazing that after group stages, only Croatia, England, Morocco, Netherlands, and USA, are yet to lose. Give it time. Knock-outs TodayArgentina V Australia Netherlands V USA
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Post by jamesdoig on Dec 3, 2022 21:44:15 GMT
So 'Socceroos' originated in Australia? Yes, that's right. Just seen that we lost to Argentina - a brave effort by a team not expected to do much.
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Post by ripper on Dec 4, 2022 10:35:00 GMT
So 'Socceroos' originated in Australia? Yes, that's right. Just seen that we lost to Argentina - a brave effort by a team not expected to do much. A very good effort by the Aussies, and a lot closer contest than some pundits were predicting. They can leave Qatar with their chests out and heads held high.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 4, 2022 14:44:30 GMT
Netherlands 3 USA 1. Seemingly immune from the epidemic of sensational upsets, six goal thrillers, on-field melees, and VAR controversies, the Dutch have achieved progress to the last eight almost without anyone noticing them - in so much as this is possible with Louis van Gaal calling the shots. Three goals in open play past the tightest defence in Qatar, and, but for a brief spell after Haji Wright's bizarre deflection/ neat improvised finish, never looked particularly troubled.
Argentina 2 Australia 1. Just the Aussie's misfortune that Messi -inspired Argentinians chose yesterday to show the form that won them the Copa América. Aussie's came close toward the end and gave them nervous moments. Terrific game, second half particularly exhilarating.
Today
France V Poland England V Senegal
Really, French should have more than enough to get past Poles who performed dreadfully in previous game. The other one ....
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Post by dem bones on Dec 5, 2022 12:07:49 GMT
France 3 Poland 1. A much-improved Poland came to near to reaching the break level, before a sharp turn and finish by Lovegod Shavingmodel broke their resistance. Lethal Mbappe doesn't seem the least phased at inheriting cursed 'best on planet' mantle.
England 3 Senegal 0. England opened with 35 minutes of Dr. Jekyll, probably should have been behind before miracle split-second transformation into Sister Hyde - they truly are an exciting watch tearing forward. Two lightening strikes later, the killer second on the stroke of HT, and it was farewell to the African champs and their tremendous support.
Today Croatia V Japan Brazil V South Korea
Tuesday Morocco V Spain Portugal V Switzerland
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